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Bentley Playfair 375 2 1/2" FL NE

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06 October 2018, 03:12
Biebs
Bentley Playfair 375 2 1/2" FL NE
I just picked up this little double and got it all cleaned up. Bores look great after brass brushing, Hoppes, and about 75 patches. Frank Beller just sent me some of his loads to try. This one is regulated with the 270gr 40 Cordite Max load. It should get about 2,000 fps with a 270gr bullet....plenty for hogs, deer, elk, bear, and moose, as well as plains game.










06 October 2018, 04:13
bwanamrm
Great! What are you asking for it? Big Grin


On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling

Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.
06 October 2018, 05:07
Biebs
Hell, I just got the box open! :-)
06 October 2018, 05:28
Colin Masters
Beautiful rifle!
06 October 2018, 07:29
cal pappas
Jon:
Hell, you know you can't own such an assult rifle in Jersey!
Cal


_______________________________

Cal Pappas, Willow, Alaska
www.CalPappas.com
www.CalPappas.blogspot.com
1994 Zimbabwe
1997 Zimbabwe
1998 Zimbabwe
1999 Zimbabwe
1999 Namibia, Botswana, Zambia--vacation
2000 Australia
2002 South Africa
2003 South Africa
2003 Zimbabwe
2005 South Africa
2005 Zimbabwe
2006 Tanzania
2006 Zimbabwe--vacation
2007 Zimbabwe--vacation
2008 Zimbabwe
2012 Australia
2013 South Africa
2013 Zimbabwe
2013 Australia
2016 Zimbabwe
2017 Zimbabwe
2018 South Africa
2018 Zimbabwe--vacation
2019 South Africa
2019 Botswana
2019 Zimbabwe vacation
2021 South Africa
2021 South Africa (2nd hunt a month later)
______________________________
06 October 2018, 07:36
Biebs
Cal, it's getting that way, it seems. But I think it will take them a while to get down to a 2-banger :-)
06 October 2018, 13:58
sambarman338
Looks good to me. Hopefully your 75 patches didn't wear the rifling out Wink
06 October 2018, 18:39
Biebs
No, looks strong and shiny now.
07 October 2018, 04:55
Nakihunter
Good one Jon! Who was the actual maker? Looks like Osborne or Hollis style.


"When the wind stops....start rowing. When the wind starts, get the sail up quick."
07 October 2018, 05:47
Biebs
Bentley Playfair made the rifle in 1909, shortly before becoming part of Issac Hollis.
07 October 2018, 21:06
Brandon.Gleason
Thats a great looking rifle, Biebs! I handled a VC 375 Flanged at SCI this past year and it was a sweet feeling rifle. Whats the Bentley weight?
07 October 2018, 21:29
Biebs
Brandon, this one is a tad over 10 lbs with the 26" barrels.
07 October 2018, 22:09
Bill73
This gun should be very easy to shoot & accurate,10 lbs will suck up any recoil.


DRSS
07 October 2018, 22:12
Grenadier
Wonderful rifle.

Which scope will you be mounting, the 12-20x60mm or the bigger one? Smiler




.
07 October 2018, 23:10
cal pappas
All I want to know, Jon, is when you put this rifle up for sale, will you "play fair?"
Cheers,
Cal


_______________________________

Cal Pappas, Willow, Alaska
www.CalPappas.com
www.CalPappas.blogspot.com
1994 Zimbabwe
1997 Zimbabwe
1998 Zimbabwe
1999 Zimbabwe
1999 Namibia, Botswana, Zambia--vacation
2000 Australia
2002 South Africa
2003 South Africa
2003 Zimbabwe
2005 South Africa
2005 Zimbabwe
2006 Tanzania
2006 Zimbabwe--vacation
2007 Zimbabwe--vacation
2008 Zimbabwe
2012 Australia
2013 South Africa
2013 Zimbabwe
2013 Australia
2016 Zimbabwe
2017 Zimbabwe
2018 South Africa
2018 Zimbabwe--vacation
2019 South Africa
2019 Botswana
2019 Zimbabwe vacation
2021 South Africa
2021 South Africa (2nd hunt a month later)
______________________________
07 October 2018, 23:57
Biebs
Cal made a funny!!!!!!!
08 October 2018, 00:49
Dutch44
Hopefully it is well regulated. Please post pics of targets if you would.
08 October 2018, 01:33
Transvaal
quote:
Originally posted by cal pappas:
All I want to know, Jon, is when you put this rifle up for sale, will you "play fair?"
Cheers,
Cal


Do Bentley owners play fair?
08 October 2018, 04:16
lavaca
What a beauty!
08 October 2018, 13:54
The Norwegian
Very nice piece Jon. Congrats and looking forward to a shooting report tu2


Morten


The more I know, the less I wonder !
08 October 2018, 17:56
Biebs
Thanks Morten! Ammo is on the way.
08 October 2018, 20:02
Todd Williams
Morten,

Notice that very nice splinter fore-end!

tu2
08 October 2018, 21:47
Biebs
Todd, Bentley Playfair merged with I Hollis, who later became BLASER! :-)
09 October 2018, 02:58
mdstewart
Great rifle and shotgun maker. Sold a couple of their shotguns over the years. First high quality double rifle I’ve seen from Pentley & Faiyfair. Good pic-up Jon. Hope you hunt it.


JP Sauer Drilling 12x12x9.3x72
David Murray Scottish Hammer 12 Bore
Alex Henry 500/450 Double Rifle
Steyr Classic Mannlicher Fullstock 6.5x55
Steyr Classic Mannlicher Fullstock .30-06
Walther PPQ H2 9mm
Walther PPS M2
Cogswell & Harrison Hammer 12 Bore Damascus
And Too Many More
09 October 2018, 04:16
Biebs
quote:
Good pic-up Jon. Hope you hunt it.

Mike, I'll be Bwana Whitetail!
09 October 2018, 04:39
Colin Masters
I really don’t know much about the cartridge, was it the parent for the full size cartridge?

Steve Barnett has a great .375 flanged 2.5” Holland and Holland dominion for $14K.
09 October 2018, 10:05
Nakihunter
Can you please post photos of the ammo. Is it a rimmed version (similar to) of 9.5X57 MS? I guess I need to check Barne's Cartridges of the World again Wink


quote:
Originally posted by Biebs:
Thanks Morten! Ammo is on the way.



"When the wind stops....start rowing. When the wind starts, get the sail up quick."
09 October 2018, 18:31
Biebs
Yes, I don't have them yet, but they are rimmed. I believe they lengthened the 303 British case in their design.
09 October 2018, 18:50
50 Calshtr
Cases are easily formed from 405 Winchester, they'll need to be trimmed a bit after forming. You may have to thin the rims depending on how deep the chamber is cut. I have a set of RCBS dies but I think CH4d also has them. Great lines on that rifle BTW.
Best.
09 October 2018, 22:20
Biebs
Here's the 375 2 1/2" ammunition. These are 235gr loads from Frank Beller, but normal loadings are 270 or 320gr. Quite a svelte cartridge!




10 October 2018, 00:41
Transvaal
Biebs;

Are you aware that the 2.5 inch .375 cartridge has two quite different proofing loads. 270 g load and the 320 g load. Rifles that are only proofed for the 270 loads are not considered by most to be of suitable strength to fire the 320 g service loads which have 2 to 3 tons greater chamber pressure--until the rifle is reproofed for the heaver bullets. The proofing stamp on the flats will clearly show which load the rifle is proofed.
10 October 2018, 03:07
Biebs
Yes, similar to the 577 rifles, with the 650gr "Jungle" load vs the 750gr full-house load. This one is marked "270 40 Cordite Max" on the flats.
10 October 2018, 12:04
The Norwegian
quote:
Originally posted by Todd Williams:
Morten,

Notice that very nice splinter fore-end!

tu2


Dear Todd,

Yes , I noticed the splinter.. I am just waiting to see yours on the VC Wink Cool


Morten


The more I know, the less I wonder !
10 October 2018, 12:06
The Norwegian
quote:
Originally posted by Biebs:
Here's the 375 2 1/2" ammunition. These are 235gr loads from Frank Beller, but normal loadings are 270 or 320gr. Quite a svelte cartridge!






Jon,

what is the main difference between this ammo and the 375 FL ammo ?

Morten


The more I know, the less I wonder !
10 October 2018, 12:10
The Norwegian
quote:
Originally posted by Biebs:
Todd, Bentley Playfair merged with I Hollis, who later became BLASER! :-)


Todd,

small world ? jumping



Morten


The more I know, the less I wonder !
10 October 2018, 18:00
boom stick
Thoughts on rechambering to 375 Flanged Magnum?


577 BME 3"500 KILL ALL 358 GREMLIN 404-375

*we band of 45-70ers* (Founder)
Single Shot Shooters Society S.S.S.S. (Founder)
10 October 2018, 18:37
Biebs
Boomie, that would considerably up the pressures, and JJ told me that most conversions he's seen have ended up a mess.
10 October 2018, 18:58
enfieldspares
I hope that the OP doesn't consider mucking about with his rifle by reaming it out to the more powerful .375 H & H version of the .375 H & H Belted Magnum round.

As others say I think that you'd wreck a fine pig rifle. Enjoy it for what it is. If the OP wants a rifle chambered in the more powerful .375 H & H chambering he'd be better advised to sell what he has and use the proceeds to buy such.
10 October 2018, 21:18
Biebs
Not even a consideration.
14 October 2018, 06:08
LHeym500
quote:
Originally posted by The Norwegian:
quote:
Originally posted by Biebs:
Here's the 375 2 1/2" ammunition. These are 235gr loads from Frank Beller, but normal loadings are 270 or 320gr. Quite a svelte cartridge!






Jon,

what is the main difference between this ammo and the 375 FL ammo ?

Morten


The 375 2 1/2 and 375 HH Flanged Magnum are both rimmed cases. The 375 Flanged Magnum is longer, I think a smaller rim, but still Flanged, slight shoulder, and fires a 300 grain bullet at 2400 FPS from 26 inch barrels. This is about 3,800 fpe. It is a 2.85 inch case. It is the rimmed counterpart to the 375 HH Belted Rimless Mangum. Having shot a 375 Flanged Magnum in 9 pund rifle, I can tell you it recoils like a 20 gauge

Mr. Biebs has provided the info for the 375 2 1/2. That load of 270 grain bullet at 2000 fps must be a pleasure on the shoulder from a well balanced double rifle.

When you see a reference to a 375Flanged that is not a Flanged Magnum it is a reference to the 375 2 1/2cased Flanged Mr. Biebs has provided us subject to the two proof loads shared by Mr. Biebs and the Mr. Transvaal.

We know Mr. Biebs will sale this rifle because he likes weird plastic, continental girls with strange extra appendages. Cough Blaser, Cough.

These medium doubles are starting to grow on me. Thank you for sharing the rifle with us.